Blues boss Paul Jewell has revealed he has made two enquiries regarding central defenders since Ibrahima Sonko suffered his rib injury during Saturday’s abandoned game against Middlesbrough. Sadly, the two targets were unavailable to come in as cover for the Town stand-in skipper, who is out for up to a month.

Jewell said: “I’ve had two conversations with two managers and the conversations didn’t go our way.

"We know we’ve only got Damo and Tommy as senior centre-halves, so we need to try and bring another player into the squad to help with that short term.

“That won’t happen before Tuesday. We were straight on the phone on Sunday morning but the couple of players we asked about are not available.”

Sonko’s absence gives Damien Delaney a chance to win back his place in the side: “You always say to players that when you don’t think it’s going your way, you’ve got to keep on fighting because you’ll get an opportunity. Damo will get an opportunity and it’s up to him to take it,” Jewell said.

The Town manager feels the Blues have been defending better as a team in recent weeks: “We’ve had trouble with our back four with the way we’ve conceded goals, but there’s more to it than that - it’s about the whole team defending as a team.

“I think what we’ve been doing in the last two games is defending from the front better with Chops, JET and Daryl Murphy closing people down high up the pitch. It’s helped the back four.”

Photo: Action Images

brittaniaman added 10:57 - Feb 14 The trio at Pompey must be very loyal to there club ??? as they are playing for no money at the moment !!!!!
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trctorby31 added 11:15 - Feb 14 I will support whatever 11 players pull on a blue (or black) shirt, at whatever ground and whatever league we are in. The club is not in an ideal situation at the moment agreed but what annoys me more than the way the club is being run at the moment. The morons/norwichfans/constantmoaners (delete as appropriate) on here. Get behind the team, get your arse to Fratton park, and make some noise. Its no wonder at times the team looks like the've given up most of you lot did months ago. PUT UP OR SHUT UP

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Cheshire_Blue added 11:18 - Feb 14 Wasn't it Collins who felt Suffolk was too far from his home in Cheshire and then nearly went to Southampton! If this is an example of his geographical knowledge I am surprised he can work out which way to kick the ball!
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daniel9624 added 11:23 - Feb 14 Much better!!
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Tractastic added 11:27 - Feb 14 Lets hope there are no injuries to Smith or Delaney tonight otherwise we will be in serious trouble.The central defence should have been sorted out months and months ago and PJ has to take responsibility. On the positive side Martin always gives 110% but for me Hyam and Drury have made the difference.Both have worked their 'socks off' in midfield and as a result given the back four better protection.These two players have definitely made a difference and its great to see young Hyam beginning to make his mark. Now lets forget about the Portsmouth trio and go to Pompey and pick up all 3 points and then PJ to secure a decent loan CB to the end of the season.COYB.

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peteswindon added 11:30 - Feb 14 Hang on getting fed up with all the PJ comments about transfers. He does not do the negoiations, Clegg is the man responcible for us not being able to get anyone in.
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bedsitfc added 12:38 - Feb 14 its not jewell or clegg fault that we can't attract players its the fair play rules coming in. if we over stretch our budget we could get a points deduction and could cost us promotion. hence why we aren't offering 3+ year deals as we may have to make the squad smaller to get in better players.
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kingy4978 added 12:46 - Feb 14 Why not raid Rangers? They clearly need to clear some players from the wage bill. Alexander, Broadfoot, Bartley ( although on loan from the gunners ) and lafferty would do.
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arc added 12:49 - Feb 14 Are any of the right-sided youth CBs ready for a match or three in the first team? That's the way it was done in my day (etc., etc.,). Oh, and a question: why is Sonko still the "stand-in skipper"? Leadbitter is fit, so he has just been dropped; in other words, he's not the skipper any more, surely.
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Dissboyitfc added 12:59 - Feb 14 Daniel when was the last time delaney had a great game? Had some of his better games beside macauly, to those of you who are moaning about the ones who are moaning, remember this! We have the right to support our team in our own way. I will always support those players on the pitch who are giving 100%. but what I won't do is support this regime, mistake after mistake and no lessons learned. How of you spotted Clegg giving an interview in a green jumper. The bloke does not understand the passion that runs through a supporters heart. We are the third best team in east Anglian and I for one am not ok about that and I will make my feelings known on the matter. Those amongst us who accept the poor dealings of this regime are in fact endorsing our poor league standing. The club needs to be aware of our feelings...coyb

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Edinburgh_Blue added 13:12 - Feb 14 @Dissboyitfc. A green jumper?! Are you serious? Is that really what you're moaning about? The bloke doesn't stand a chance does he?
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wychyblue added 13:24 - Feb 14 Worcester Blue, I know for a fact that it isnt Danny Collins not wanting to come. It is for a fact that Tony Pulis won't let him!
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Dissboyitfc added 13:49 - Feb 14 He comes on tv in what was a difficult pr exercise in a green jumper, where do you live? ???? It's a scum colour, couldn't imagine a Norwich exec, coming on tv in blue. It shows Cleggs lack of understanding about what football means to people . Would be like Churchill doing his famous on the beeches speech in Gestapo colours. He was supposed to be smoothing over a difficult situation. ... Coyb

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Mungo added 14:01 - Feb 14 This 'crisis' could also be an opportunity? Bring in a promising centre back from the lower leagues on loan (Karleigh Osborne of Brentford & Mark Ellis of Torquay are both out of contract in the summer and may be available at relatively inexpensive prices?) At the very least they will be able to act as cover, if not cement a place in the first team? They could be integrated into the squad for the start of next season. Jas - Do you think the current defensive situation would exist had Roy Keane decided to renew MacAuley's contract?

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Sorry added 14:16 - Feb 14 You were on the phone Sunday? Sorry PJ, is there a law that says you can't even call people to ask about players until the window opens?
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Tractorboy98 added 16:29 - Feb 14 We had Gianni Zuiverloon and Liam Rosenior both good right backs but we didn't try hard enough to keep them! Therefore we should never have sold Wright! We need a good solid defender like Matty Bates who knows the club! MacAuley could even come back, Roy Hodgeson said he made a mistake earlier on! We need players that know the club to lift us! We need someone like Matt Holland in our coaching staff to lift us too! I'm not moaning because I am pleased with the past few results! Just things we need to look at!

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